Oral Contraceptive Use and Tobacco Use in Relation to Alveolar Osteitis

An revisited study finds correlation between Alveolar Osteitisand Oral Contraceptives, especially in conjunction with Tobacco Usage. The ADA and JADA strongly support Dentist being more cognizant of patients using OCs and smoking tobacco.

“Our global meta-analysis robustly indicated: (1) females have a greater susceptibility to AO than males; (2) among females, oral contraceptive use significantly increases the average risk of AO occurrence by nearly two-fold; and (3) in 85.7 percent of the studies, smokers had an overall higher rate of AO than non-smokers,” said the article’s corresponding author, Diane Bienek, Ph.D., of the ADA Foundation Volpe Research Center. (06.01.2016 JADAarticle review)

The study went on to show no evidence of lower risk in females menstruating at the time of exodontia, but did suggest dentists and oral surgeons have a discussion with their female patients about scheduling the tooth extractions during the period of placebo in the oral contraceptive regimen to minimize the occurrence of alveolar osteitis.